The ongoing saga between taxi companies and ride-sharing service providers continues, as taxi companies claimed that service providers like Grab and Uber can ruin the industry if not regulated properly.
Speaking to The Sun, Big Blue Taxi boss Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said the new proposed regulation by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) for ride-sharing services could mark the end for taxi companies. He claimed that nearly 80% of taxi drivers have returned their taxis back to the taxi companies, opting to drive for Uber and Grab instead.
“When the taxi drivers return the taxis to us (the company), the industry will collapse! Please remember we still need to service the bank loans and other costs,” he stressed.
He further claimed that four taxi drivers under Big Blue Taxi has returned their taxis to the company. The boss of Big Blue Taxi further disputed SPAD’s proposal for taxi companies to adopt a similar profit-sharing approach for the cabbies’ daily income.
“I want to know how it will be done. Tell me how SPAD can do it? Because right now, for the blue taxi drivers, they need to get a minimum of RM350 per day and RM200 per day for budget taxi drivers for them to earn enough to cover the daily cost,” he added.
Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association chief Datuk Aslah Abdullah agreed with Shamsubahrin, saying, “If that’s what’s been endorsed by the Prime Minister and the special economic committee, then we have to accept. We have to face the reality sooner or later whether we like it or not.”
